Sunday 28 April 2019

Black and white and Monochrome large format plotter now in singapore!

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ROWE-ecoPrint-i4-MFP_300dpi_2600px

A Clean, Productive and Reliable Workhorse Rowe Large Format Monochrome plotter[/caption]
Roth+Weber, or ROWE as it is most commonly known as, has been in the wide format market for almost 60 years! You may not have heard of this brand before, but it is set to make big waves in the monochrome printing market here in Singapore.
Why? you may be wondering. Well in order to know the answer to this question it is important to know a little more about this company so that you have a better understanding.
First here are some facts that you should be familiar with before going forward :
  1.  It is the only large format laser machine that is still wholly manufactured in Germany.
  2. Through USC Solutions Pte Ltd, full support is provided along with all spare parts and key personnel trained to handle this machine here in Singapore
  3. It is extremely reliable and a true workhorse.
  4. Rowe is a focused manufacturer that only deals with Large Format equipment and unlike other manufacturers with many different product lines, Rowe remains purely in the large format market.
  5. ROWE has won a number of awards and accolades in terms of technology, some larger brands have only recently been 'inspired' by Rowe product designs.
So, let's explore this company a little more in depth. The company as a leading manufacturer of perfect solutions for A0 document processing develops and produces all products within its facility- 100 % Made in Germany.

ROWE has been concentrating on specialization in wide format for more than 60 years. Scanners, printers, controllers, folding systems and cutting technology developed and manufactured by us.
The decisive advantage for the customer is obvious: all ROWE products are absolutely compatible with each other thereby ensuring efficient mapping of business processes. In addition to this, because ROWE is so focused on the large format industry, it knows intrinsically the needs and demands of users.

The medium-sized organization with its headquarter in Niederdreisbach (Rhineland-Palatinate) was founded in 1955. Today the company has achieved an international reputation and is active in over 90 countries all over the world. This worldwide phenomenon is accelerated by the simple fact, that customers trust and rely on products made in Germany more than any other country. The dedication to quality and performance while still maintaining affordability is the key to ROWE success.
One reason for this is the absolute focus on research and development. The most important drive for innovative activity is the company’s own center for research and development. This area was extended yet again in summer 2015 by the construction of a second test center.
ROWE is one of the most innovative IT companies in Germany and was awarded the “Goldmedaille der deutschen Weltmarktführer” (Gold Medal of German World Market Leaders) twice at the same time. In the two categories “The World Market Leaders” and “The Family Business”, ROWE was given the awards for its previous successes and its future prospects. The awards were presented in Berlin by German Foreign Secretary Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

ROWE_MITWMF_SiegelROWE_MITFAM_Siegel

There are so many customers, who worry about reliability and performance. They also often ask me where the machines i propose to them are manufactured in. So usually i have to reply, china. Don't get me wrong there is nothing wrong with a made in china product especially when it comes with a full warranty and supported by a big name brand.

The crux of the matter is, given a choice, many Singaporeans would pound for pound purchase a German Made machine vs a China Made machine.


The issue is, that all of the large manufacturers who are in this industry are making their machines in China or nearby countries. This leaves the customer with really no choice.  Secondly, the perception of a 'made in Germany' product is that it will be exceedingly expensive compared to its nearest competitor. Well, this is a myth, the machines that are made by Rowe are extremely affordable and when comparing between machines a quality, precision made and versatile solution like Rowe will always come out tops.

So stay tuned, as we delve into each of these machines and learn more about why this large format machine is set to make waves in Singapore.
If you would like to see the machine for yourself, do not hesitate to contact us and we will give you a full understanding and demonstration of the marvelous piece of technology.


Sales & Marketing CAD Division

USC Solutions Pte Ltd

203A Henderson Road
#02-03 Henderson Industrial Park
Singapore 159546
M: +65 90266787
T: +65 6278 3110
E: marco@uscgp.com
www.uscsolns.com
www.largeformatspecialist.com.sg

Monday 15 April 2019

The Fastest Possible Large format A1 and A0 wide format plotter in Singapore.

Print Color and Black and White Faster than ever!

PageWide_XL_4000_front_scan__tcm184_2080635_tcm184_2080630_tcm184-2080635
When it comes to plan drawings, especially those used in construction and engineering. Many customers are still using a traditional large format laser printer to get the job done. This is primarily because it has been the best option for those customers who need fast print outs and are concerned about costs.

The truth is, another alternative does exist, and this comes from the revolutionary Pagewide series of large format machines. It promises to be a game-changing technology capable of replacing multiple units of machines into a consolidated device powerful enough to meet the needs and demands of its users. The best part, its faster and cheaper to print in both color and black and white than all existing current technology.

In this article, i would like to highlight the very basics of this technology and then expand upon it with machines in this series.

The major problem that faces many companies today is productivity, productivity and the lack thereof has a ripple effect within any organization. One of the things all offices do on a regular basis is print, be it drawings or documents. The printing process can be either a seamless workflow or it can be extremely cumbersome, it is the difference between long hours or going back on time.
I know it may sound silly, to think that a printer can have such implications, however, do take a look at this video to understand a little more about why a seamless workflow is important especially in peak periods. Although the video is highlight issues within a print service providers environment, similar situations occur in large format printing in offices all over Singapore.

printbetterandfaster

So how and what is Pagewide Technology, simply put as the name implies pagewide is a technology that caters for printing over the entire "page-width" hence the name page wide. The general understanding of inkjet printers is that it is a single printhead that moves back and forth at the same time with the paper moving forward. This technology means that instead of moving the printheads, the entire width of the printable area is covered by a printhead and now the paper travels beneath it. So the only thing that moves is the paper moving forward! Take a look at this video to understand this technology.
printbetterandfaster222.jpg
The resulting effect of this is that now you have large format printers, printing in seconds vs what would take a traditional inkjet printer much longer to complete. Now i know some of you who are used to "laser printing" will have reservations and i encounter this very often, my customers often ask me "marco won't prints printed with inkjet smudge or smear when it comes in contact with water?"
This is probably something you also consider when purchasing a printer, to this i say all prints that are printed with HP Pagewide technology are water resistant and will not smear or smudge when it comes into contact with water..more about that in another article.

So now that you know a little bit about the technology this is the result of the pure speeds the machines can achieve, 
  • 6 A1/min , 10 A1/min, 15 A1/Min, 20 A1/min and the fastest 30 A1/min
  • Now imagine a full color A1 drawing being completed in just 3 seconds and costs almost identically to a monochrome print.
The value of the proposition is exceedingly high, because what you have achieved if you choose to invest in this system is reduced costs per copy for color prints, top notch productivity, drawings which now can work as tools and fewer devices for your IT team to manage.
Lets face it, we live in a world full of color. Displays keeps getting better and better each day. Softwares such as BIM and other tools which are now being deployed in the reprographics market aim to give architects, engineers, consultants and more the right tool for doing the right job.  The future of printing and print technologies will move away from laser machines and now be enabled in devices such as these.
We will elaborate more in the coming blogposts, however if what we have said to you appeals to you and you would like to know more, feel free to contact me or to learn more.

www.largeformatspecialist.com.sg
www.uscsolns.com
Sales & Marketing CAD Division
USC Solutions Pte Ltd

203A Henderson Road
#02-03 Henderson Industrial Park
Singapore 159546
 marco@uscgp.com
M: +65 90266787
T: +65 6278 3110


Friday 25 August 2017

Best HP Large Format Color Plotter In Singapore

Hey, folks! well, this is part 2 of my previous blog post on the best large format plotter your company can buy for their large format printing needs. I highly recommend that you read before continuing this article.We covered in the previous article a couple of points, that had to do with the stacker function and the scanner function. In this article, we shall go a little deeper.

Ink Systems:

The HP T3500 comes with a total of 6 ink cartridges, that compromises of cyan, magenta, yellow, Black, Grey, and Photo Black. This is for good reason too! These days there has been an increased emphasis on BIM, 3D renderings, and far more complex drawings. In order to capture the full spectrum of colors that need to be present for some real jaw dropping print quality! Of course, if you're doing simple cad line printing, GIS printing this machine will handle these printouts with total ease and comfort as well! So what makes this ink system so special? Actually, it's not so much the ink system but the actual hardware that has gone into building this machine, the ink systems are protected from the environment so dust dirt and other creepy crawlies don't get into it.
Secondly, did you know that there is NO WASTE INK TANK, this intelligent system manages to get away without the need for a separate waste ink tank! This is done through the clever utilization of software and hardware to ensure that inks are used in the most efficient way possible. So you can get your drawings printed without the excessive use of the inks! The machine as long as you don't turn off the machine(unplug from power point) ensures the inks are kept in the most optimal condition along with the printhead.

T3500_IMAGE_GALLERY_IMG_3_941x500_tcm245_2383671_tcm245_2383644_tcm245-2383671


Two Rolls: Whats so special?

T3500_CloseUp_Two_Rolls_01 

The HP T3500 is equipped with two rolls, while this may be something that is relatively common on other large format printers and plotters, this comes with a surprising twist! You see most of the other standard models of printers only have the ability to hold up to a maximum capacity of 50 or at the very max 100 meters of roll paper length. Now let me be clear, the paper is known as a consumable and the cheaper you are able to purchase your consumables the better it is in the long run.
The T3500 allows a customer to purchase jumbo rolls, meaning to say you can load paper up to a maximum length of up to 200 meters.  So what! you may be asking? well, let's consider two points here which is very important when you buy rolls at this length.
  • Roll changes are less frequent
  • Cost of paper purchase is much less
Result: Roll changes are really a tiresome thing to do, just ask anyone who has a lot of drawings to print, they would have to repeatedly change the paper rolls.  It is not easy and most end users hate to do it.
So with a jumbo roll in place, you change the rolls less frequently. Most inkjet machines have only a 50-meter roll length, so when you have a 200-meter roll, you change once for the equivalent of 3 rolls of paper! This makes life just a little easier and not having to carry heavy rolls of paper to conduct a roll change frequently.

Result: When you purchase your paper at longer lengths the overall cost of the paper is actually cheaper, well at least this is the case here in Singapore. Typically you will see a paper cost savings of at least 30-40%. This means that you can print with lower costs and not worry about keeping and storing a number of smaller rolls, just have a few jumbo rolls kept neatly and that's all you need!
Oh yes, and one more thing, you may be wondering. The roll diameter is a 3" core. Now, most inkjet paper uses a 2" core rolls. So the question would be how then can I use existing 2" core media if you wanted to print on coated or photo gloss. A simple yet innovative solution is in a place, it's called the adaptor! The HP T3500 comes equipped with an adaptor that can change the roll diameter from 2" to 3" without any effort. This means you can enjoy a wide range of media to use with your T3500 machine.

One other thing, look at this photo.
rollcover

If you look carefully you can see that the top roll is open, and the second roll is covered and protected. This is so that you can load a normal 80 gsm paper at the top roll which can be used for everyday printing, the second roll which is covered is for keeping more expensive rolls of paper such as coated media, or photo gloss paper. This feature protects your expensive rolls from people walking by or accidentally damaging the expensive plotter paper roll.
Well, this brings me to the end of Part 2 of the T3500 review. In my next blog post we shall look at the software that runs this beautiful machine as well as the unique way of producing color and mono prints for the same price...yes you read that correctly. Color and Mono for the same price. Stay tuned!

We carry a full range of plotters and printers, in fact, this is our profession, we don't carry a4 or a3 solutions but are strictly and totally focused on the large format industry. To view, our entire range of products visit us at www.largeformatspecialist.com.sg

See ya soon!
Marco
Full Range Of Machines: www.largeformatspecialist.com.sg/
WordPress                   : https://largeformatplotters.wordpress.com
Facebook:                   : www.facebook.com/uscsolutions
Add Me On Google+      : google.com/+MarcoMoochala
Sales & Marketing CAD Division
USC Solutions Pte Ltd
203A Henderson Road
#02-03 Henderson Industrial Park
Singapore 159546
M: +65 90266787

Tuesday 9 May 2017

One Of The BEST wide format printer in singapore

Ladies and Gentlemen, let me introduce you to one very special machine, the Legendary HP Designjet T3500. In my humble opinion possibly one of the best large format printer and wide format plotter in Singapore (for medium size companies).
So why do i say it is one of the best, well let me share some of my experiences so that this may help in making a valuable decision when your purchasing or considering purchasing this machine.  
Lets begin for those inclined to the technical side, at the time of writing this article, it has still the heaviest technical load outs for a machine at its price point. Even though HP , Canon and Epson have updated their machines, in terms of technical superiority at this price point it still reigns supreme , why is that so?
  • Intel i5 Core Processor
  • 2.5 GB of ram
  • 128 GB of Virtual memory
  • 500 GB AES Encrypted HDD
  • A 100 Page Stacker
  • Jumbo Rolls
So you see folks..., this machine lacks in no way any lack of technical prowess. So how do all of these things actually really matter what makes this machine one of the best?
First of all lets begin from the very top of the machine and then work our way down so that we can fully appreciate the form and the design of this machine , which is no surprise as to why it won the IF design awards.
The Stacker: 100 Pages Of Perfectly Stacked A1 Copies
You might be wondering, why is the stacker even mentioned after all....how exciting could a stacker be? well if you think about it closely, the T3500 gets its form factor from the mercury line of HP products. This most notably is the HP T930HP T2530HP T1530, which formed the core of the machine. Now remember prior to HP's innovation most plotters did not come with a stacker ( unless of course they were the really expensive ones) A masterstroke in design and functionality the HP Mercury Platform stackers, for the first time allowed an affordable solution for this very important aspect.....stacking. 
So what! Its a damn Stacker! whats so special about a stacker! well, here's the thing, suppose you have a set of drawings to print out, 1 set 20 copies, if you should purchase any machine without a stacker....then yes...you'd get a basket. You heard me right, a basket. Who wan'ts their precious drawings ending up in a basket, crumpled, unsorted, disorganized and  need i mention a Glorious Waste Of Time!! can you imagine yourself sending 20 copies to your plotter , then having to retrieve them from a basket which practically has other drawings on top of it and then having to take them out place them flat and straighten it all over again...jeez give me a break. Trust me if your a business owner you owe it to your staff and your company to invest in a machine with a stacker..if not it will just waste their time and by wasting their time wasting your money.
large format printer, wide format plotter
One of the most convenient and easy ways to stack and retrieve your drawings.
Instead, imagine a scenario, you just sent 20 copies to the plotter, its all been printed. Now its held on neatly by a stacker , simply walk up to your machine hold the copies on both sides and pull straight up....really its that simple. Oh and did i mention, its a 100 page stacker so should you attempt to print 100 a1 drawings on any other machine...fair warning its gonna get chaotic really quickly.  One last thing, other machiness do have stackers, however they seem to be rather...how should i say..angled...so in order to see what you were printing you'd have to walk to the back, lift a copy and verify it was indeed your drawing...such hassles should be avoided at all cost!
The Scanner : Color / Mono Scans up to 36" wide
When it comes to scanning, the HP T3500 is actually powered by another industry giant Contex Scanners. In the world of high performance and good quality scans context is hands down the leader. The HP T3500 wide format plotter comes equipped with this amazing peice of technology from contex. This combination offers seamless intergration in a perfect sized bundle. So lets learn about this scanner. 
First of all, the tech specs(for the tech inclined),
  • 7.5 inches per second in monochrome
  • 2.5 inches per second in color
  • 600 dpi max scan
  • Scan formats : pdf, jpeg, tiff etc.
Not bad for an all in one scanner...again..tech specs are one thing, lets think of a real life scenario i see every time i see and speak to the customer. Most drawings are rolled, and you know what happens when your drawing is rolled....well it curls. Don't you just hate having to uncurl your drawing! imagine you had to do 30 scans...curl ,uncurl, curl, uncurl and so on. In a short time your going to get really really really frustrated . So its not really the technical load out that impresses me about this scaner . its two things one its large table size and two its auto width detection. Let me explain.
When you have a large format print or wide format document that is curled and you try to scan it, you better make sure your scanner has the right table width for you to easily slot in your scan drawings. If at the point of inserting your drawing you have to fiddle around just to get that damn curl out of the way the time taken to scan is going to be exponential. The image below shows you what i mean, take the two examples from two leading manufacturers and critically examine the insertion point of the document..then ask yourself..is it going to be easy to slot that drawing in?


A narrow path might have been advantages to the brave spartan men in the movie 300, but to the brave architect , engineer or construction personnel, not really. So what i love about the T3500 large format plotter is that its scan path is HUGE!  You literally get a working table for you to lay your curled drawings flat and easily slot it into the scanner!
large format scanner hp, wide format scanner
A massive scan path to easily place and flatten your curled up drawings
 I hope that now you can clearly see the difference a wide scanning input can make, especially when you have a great many scans to scan. The auto detection of the width is also really nifty, you don't really have to align the document as per the size of the table, simply insert any document at its center and then the machine will automatically realize its width. It performs other cool functions like anti skew and neatly crops out your drawing for you. So its as simple as that. 
Scan and copy quicksets :  Making life a little easier
Owning a large format plotter and large format scanner is suppose to make your life much more smoother and alot more efficient. In this respect the HP T3500 comes with this ability to create quick sets. 
What is a quick set? : A quick set is a set of parameters that have been preset for you so  that when you walk up to the machine no further inputs are needed. 
This works in a simple way for scanning or copying, support you have a color a1 size drawing that you now wish to print in mono chrome. well you can easily do that now. Simply walk up to your machine , slick on scan, select the quick set you desire and thats it. 
In another respect you can also make quick sets of enlargements and reductions, so for example you can easily enlarge an a3 size document wuthout having to worry about percentages if you have a quick set ready, simply walk up to the machine and select A3 to A1 and there you have it. No manual calculation needed or any of that brain numbing work.
There are factory quick sets that come with the machine but you can always add your own and you can also delete them if you find them no longer useful. The scanner allows you also to scan a multi page document, so if you have 10 copies and simply want one pdf file, then select the multi page file format. Its really that simple!
Well folks as this is part 1 of my blog post of the T3500,  i shall continue again to show you how and why this plotter is one of the best large format printers in singapore...and trust me we are just getting started!
Do write to me or visit my webpage below to see my entire portfolio and i look forward to hearing from you!
Full Range Of Machines : www.largeformatspecialist.com.sg/
Wordpress                   : http://largeformatplotters.wordpress.com
Facebook:                   : www.facebook.com/uscsolutions
Add Me On Google+      : google.com/+MarcoMoochala

Sales & Marketing CAD Division
USC Solutions Pte Ltd
203A Henderson Road
#02-03 Henderson Industrial Park
Singapore 159546

M: +65 90266787
T: +65 6278 3110
F: +65 6273 4208


Monday 15 August 2016

Large Format Life Sized 3D printer


The Most Affordable Big Sized 3D Printer In Singapore!



Wow, that's what i exclaimed after i first saw this 3D printer! I was excited to see this machine for a couple of reasons. The most exciting part about this 3D printer has to do with its build volume !
So whats so exciting about the size, well in this blog series i am going to take you my readers on a journey of possibilities. We are going to understand what this machine is and follow it up with a myriad of applications. This journey will be exciting , eye opening and most importantly give you an idea of the possibilities.
So lets begin with whats currently happening in the 3D market in Singapore. The first thing you will notice, is that there has always been a hype about 3D printing in Singapore. Most customers or potential customers remain unconvinced about the possibilities of 3D machines.
This is either to do with,  incorrect machines, cheap machines, poor print quality , understanding of applications and much more. When looking at 3d printing machines, what happens is an emotional response occurs almost instantly.
The ability to build, make and design things has always been a part of the human psyche. We have a strong reaction to something so innovative. I always advise to anyone looking at a 3D machine ..to take a moment step back and understand why your excited. Take this excitement and see if there is an actual use for it and most importantly whether you would want to use it.
Excitement is good but it must tie into a real world solution. There are literally a myriad of 3d printers that you can purchase from just about anywhere. You will immediately notice that their build volume is usually pretty tiny. We live in the real world, and in the real world we use 'big' things not minuscule models of things. Now using a large sized 3D printer will bridge the gap from machines that are producing tiny prototypes to machines that will actually build, prototype, create and make products that we all can use.
This is where the BigREP comes into play. So lets explore some important technical details, there are some others however these are i feel the most important:
  • x 1050 mm y 1050 mm z 1050 mm build size 
    • The build size allows for large objects to be printed
    • More than a cubic volume
  • Resolution : 100-1000 micron layer thickness
    • This refers to the thickness of each layer
    • The thicker the layer the faster the printout however the lower the resolution
    • 100 microns is equivalent to = 0.1 mm
    • 1000 microns is equivalent to = 1 mm
  • Extruder : Two modular Extrusion Heads
    • having two extrusion heads allows for layers having different colors
    • you can also print different materials in between layers to create unique and special effects
  • Fabrication Method : FFF
    • The industry standard to make parts that are strong
    • The easiest to understand method for fabrication.
The above gives you some important highlights, namely it has to do with the quality of print, size of the print and also the method of fabrication. I know what your thinking , it looks like a basic 3d printer that's just been enlarged. This however is very far from the truth. I urge you to take a look at this video to give you a basic understanding of what this machine can do before we go on to the next part of the detailed features of this machine!

        
Stay tuned to my next blog post which will go into the detailed features of why this machine is fundamentally different from other large size 3d printers that are available. 
You may also seek to contact me below:
Sincerely & Respectfully,
Marco Moochala
Full Range Of Machines : www.largeformatspecialist.com.sg/
Blog                             : http://largeformatplotters.blogspot.sg/
Wordpress                     : http://largeformatplotters.wordpress.com
Follow Me On Twitter     : @marcomoochala
Add Me On Google+      : google.com/+MarcoMoochala
Sales & Marketing CAD Division
USC Solutions Pte Ltd
203A Henderson Road
#02-03 Henderson Industrial Park
Singapore 159546

Sunday 14 August 2016

Wide Format AO and A1 Scanner Singapore Contex SD ONE MF

Contex SD ONE MF : An Affordable & Powerful Large Format Scanning System

large format scanner in singapore
Contex AO and A1 Size Multifunction Scanner
Scanners, good to have but not really a necessity, heard that line before? Well indeed its true that we have moved considerably into the digital age..and that's great. Paper is saved and with that the environment as well. Do pause for a moment and think it through though..every building that is being constructed requires paper drawings to get it off the ground. Things haven't changed much since the days of old in that aspect.
So why are we talking about scanners, well scanner are essential to do two main things the first is archive and share and the other is to make copies. So lets talk about the first, when you make a change in your drawing you will need to keep a copy of the changes you have made. This is critical in the archive and documentation of a particular project, without which no record will be preserved. The second is probably after you have made that change you will need to print it out on your large format plotter, so if you have a large format scanner that works with your large format plotter then you have a complete solution.
Now of late, more and more multi functional machines are in the market, some of them include the HP T830 HP T3500. The HP T830 has been gaining much traction due to its compact size, low cost of purchase and functional design. The T3500 is still reserved for customers who have a higher print volume. There have also been some new additions in the low-cost multi function arena from canon.
The trouble begins, especially when you're looking at these machines is the screen size for the scanner. They practically serve no real purpose in helping you understand what it is your scanning. 
colortrac
A small screen  with complicated buttons and a non user-friendly experience
hptouchscreen
This Touch Screen  a little easier to understand but too small
If you take a close look at what is being offered with these low-cost multifunction printers you will realise the screen is really small. So lets say you're scanning a document and would like to see a preview of what your scanning, or even lets say crop out a certain part of the image or even annotate/write on that image...You just cant do it. No way, no how. See this makes it really difficult to really get a grasp on what your scanning or copying, it adds no value to your workflow at all. In fact most models that these large manufacturers are pumping out, are really low cost. I am all about low cost, but why should I sacrifice low cost for all the negative impacts my staff would have to endure over the course of the machine especially when related to scanning.
So lets talk about a viable solution, firstly when it comes to integrated scanners, major brands like HP, Canon And Epson, rely on a basic scanner, which is  more often than not a OEM either by colortrac or contex. When a brand OEM's for another brand, they do so being careful not to cannibalize their own market share. So there are definitely better multifunctional machines out there, it's just that you have not been presented to it. Here are some glaring issues:
  1. Integrated Scanners and printers, mean just that...integrated, if one component fails the whole machine fails.
  2. A scanner is actually surprisingly hardy and can be reused, however because they are integrated you have to discard the whole machine including the scanner.
  3. The screen sizes are too small to be useful
  4. You cannot annotate on the fly nor can you perform any form of editing.
  5. The scan quality is lacking in reproducing accurate colors and accurate lines.
  6. No cloud connectivity for scanners
  7. No wi-fi capability
So with these issues, on paper when you are looking at big name brands, it looks well and good, but you really have to critically deep dive into the issues to understand. So lets talk about a viable solution. The CONTEX MF ONE.
What i like about contex, is the fact is they have just one type of business, the business of manufacturing world-class and good quality scanners. That's it, that's all they do. The business of optics is extremely complicated and you will realize that large format scanners actually cost more than the printers. So who is the best at it, in my opinion contex scanners are the scanners you need to get you there. In understanding the contex mf one, let me share what is unique about this particular solution:
  1. Scanner & Printer are separate but connected:
    1. The scanner is its own habitat.
    2. Its connected via a wi-fi signal to your plotter
    3. It can also be connected directly from the Ethernet port
    4. A separate scanner ensures a contingency for failure
  2. Keep your scanner upgrade your plotter:
    1. Scanners usually cost more than the printers.
    2. It would be better to keep your existing scanner and then just upgrade your plotter
    3. Since plotters are constantly being upgraded this option is useful for customers who want the latest technology in their machines
  3. A Useful Screen Size
    1. Low cost MFP's usually have a really small screen size
    2. Also there is no preview available
    3. The CONTEX MF ONE allows for a large screen size that is practical and useful
    4. See more and do more when you're not straining to see what you're scanning. 
  4. On the Fly Edit and Annotate:
    1. The CONTEX MF ONE allows you to do something rather unique. 
    2. You can now annotate on the preview screen save it or print it out.
    3. In addition you can also perform cropping and enlargements of certain sections.
    4. All of these functions without bringing your file to your PC.
    5. Thus saving you a lot of time and effort. 
  5. Accurate Colors and precise lines:
    1. To reproduce the correct colors and to scan fine details you need  a quality scanner.
    2. Mass produced scanners do a decent job of scanning, or rather making it appear like a good scan.
    3. However, when you work with fine lines and details it is imperative you use a scanner which you can trust. 
    4. One example is the common use of highlighters, in our tests mass-produced MFP machines cannot capture highlighter colors well enough. 
    5. The Contex MF One will use a technology that is found in high-end scanners called 'contex clean scan'
    6. This technology ensures your details are captured with the right colors and details. 
  6. Cloud and wi-fi enabled:
    1. Most scanners do not allow you to scan your document directly into cloud applications such as google drive. 
    2. Most of the times scans are stored in the local area network folder.
    3. In using the contex MF one, you can create individual profiles for individual users so that they can save files where they want them to be.
    4. This added feature assist users in customizing their scan experience. 

So when you are indeed looking for a multifunctional printer, take some time and explore the product, learn what you can about the quality it can produce, the efficiency it provides and the workflow which will affect your business. These days more and more low cost solutions are put toghether for the sake of apeasing the end user, to make them feel that they have indeed got a good deal. When it comes down to it, scanning is an important aspect of any architectural, engineering and construction firm. There is no way to store and capture large documents without scanning them. So take a look at your options carefully and see whats right for your business. 
As always i hope the pointers here will help you understand more about large format scanners and also give you an alternative perspective on scanners which are available.
Do visit our website for a full range of products that we have to help your business. www.largeformatspecialist.com.sg

Sincerely & Respectfully,
Marco Moochala
Full Range Of Machines : www.largeformatspecialist.com.sg/
Blog                             : http://largeformatplotters.blogspot.sg/
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Facebook:                      : www.facebook.com/uscsolutions
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Sales & Marketing CAD Division
USC Solutions Pte Ltd
203A Henderson Road
#02-03 Henderson Industrial Park
Singapore 159546

M: +65 90266787
T: +65 6278 3110
F: +65 6273 4208

Friday 12 February 2016

The most affordable large format a0 & A1 Plotter in singapore!

Large Format Printer Singapore - The Most Affordable Plotter Mutoh RJ900X

The Mutoh RJ900X Series Of Machines:
Cheapest Printer In singapore
The most affordable large format color plotter in singapore.
The term affordability gets thrown around alot these days, with each manufacturer stating that their machine is indeed an affordable solution.
In order to fully understand this term we need to define this term completely. A machine can be affordable to purchase at the outset which sounds lovely on paper, or are we going to choose to look a little deeper?
I chose the latter, many of my customers are in a bind as to decide and to compare , these days the choices are plenty and prices of machines are really at an all time low. Manufacturers throw the price of their machine at almost a cost , i mean simply put if the manufacturer, is selling you the machine initially at a very low price this only really means that they have a plan. After all they are not in the business of loosing money, money has to come from somewhere...right?
The answer is simple, it comes from the consumables that the machine will use. So think about what is the number one component in any machine...that certainly is without a doubt the ink. Printer ink is one of the most incredibly expensive commodity today.
E.g :
Fuel tanks in a car hold approximately 44 liters which in singapore is charged at around 1.80 so that would work out to be $79.20 SGD
Ink in a printer if poured in comparison into a car would translate based on current large format printer manufacturers will work out to be approximately $0.65/ml there is 44,000 ml in a car so a car fuel tank would cost you $28,600 SGD
The above is just to illustrate the value of ink vs the value of fuel. i mean , ink is the new gold.
So this is where the Mutoh RJ900x Shines:
In the cost of ink game, there is a machine that can produce for you stunning printouts absolutely brilliant CAD and line work and is all built on this machine platform which remains as one of the only large format machine manufactured completely in japan.
Technical Specs are as follows:
  • Highest Resolution 1440 x 2880 dpi
  • Fast: A1 Color print 33 seconds only!
  • Memory 256MB
  • Wave printing technology lower banding lines
  • 3 years next business day machine warranty
  • Outstanding quality for CAD & Photo Print applications
  • Heavy Duty / Medium Duty Usage
  • 4 color Ink System CMYK
100% Made In Japan
The beauty of the MUTOH machine is the fact that, not only does the manufacturer allow a specific formulation of ink that works well with the machine. It also locally in Singapore is supported by a 3 year warranty. So for those of you who are looking to remove yourself from the vicious cycle of paying exorbitant amounts for essential ink. Then you need to take this seriously when it comes to understanding the value this machine will allow you do add.
The Made In Issue:

The pressure from manufacturers to produce cheaper and cheaper machines has led to a proliferation of the machines being built in countries like china and thailand.
Not that there is anything wrong in manufacturing in these countries but results speak for themselves.
The legendary models from other manufacturers that previously were built in Singapore or in japan, have lasted the longest. Some customers i meet still use these machines, Why? The quality of build is truly superior. We have become a culture of purchasing the cheapest possible machine, and we don't seem to think otherwise in regards to the running cost of the plotter. That is so dangerous if your print volume is moderate.
The Mutoh RJ series is entirely built in japan, and understanding their culture and the attention to detail that is put in simply outshines the mass produced models that are super cheap to purchase vs a quality machines.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxCnh9VFcdg[/embed]
The Features Issue:

I wouldn't put the Mutoh machine as being "Innovative" if i was to describe the machine, i would say it is "Built with superiority,designed to last and ultimately the most affordable way to print"
True the Mutoh machine lacks intuitive touch screens, cloud printing, remote printing, WiFi printing, post script, etc etc etc. The usual bells and whistles.
However the question is , how much do you print and what do you print.
If your a casual user then certainly these other machines i would highly recommend them, If the features in these machines are going to improve your workflow and make your printing life easier then yes they will add this value to you. So its justified.
However purchasing the other machines and all your going to print is CAD Drawings with some level of GIS or even images then really a souped up bells and whistles type of machine is not what i would recommend.
Clearing up the Misconceptions about INKS:
These days, consumers get overly excited by pegging the quality of the printout to the number of inks in the machine.
Machines that are currently available come in the following ink configurations:
  • 4 color ink system
  • 5 color ink system
  • 6 color ink system
  • 8 color ink system
This has been the most confusing aspect of choosing a machine especially when it comes to customer purchase. Some sales executives are overly excited to a point of stating the more inks a machine has , as an advantage.
Little does the average consumer realize that he is on a ride and a long deep treacherous ride indeed.
More colors available to a printer is certainly helpful provided you are matching what your application is.
For example if you wish to produce ultra high quality photographic prints for fine art applications then certainly a more complex color gamut is required.
However most of my customers who are architects, construction companies, consultants or engineers are using 6 color and 5 color ink system to produce CAD drawings. The question you should be asking why do i need these many colors to do something as simple as CAD drawings?
Take another example , the 5 color ink system. 
You have CMYK which are the primary colors and you have another cartridge called the BLK.
Did you know that if you do not print on a media profile of photo glossy, or glossy paper, that cartridge does nothing but drain....drain...and drain.
You don't need a fifth cartridge or a 8th cartridge or whatever if your just doing simple cad drawings and simple graphics. 4 color cartridges are MORE then enough to achieve outstanding colors sharpness and detail.
Need proof ? well just take a look at these photos here, all produced on a 4 color machine.
Super high quality printouts with just 4 colors
Super high quality printouts with just 4 colors
Sharp Lines, words, images and graphics
Sharp Lines, words, images and graphics
Do not make a mistake of paying for cartridges you don't need and which do not serve you in any way at all. Make a decision based on proof and understanding . The fewer cartridges you have the better it is for you. Trust me on this.
The MUTOH brand
When i do propose this brand to customers, they immidiately respond with "well i have not heard about this brand before, how do i know if i can rely on it"
Simply put, it is precisely this reason that customers would continue to do and purchase machines that are over kill for their purposes and pay through their nose for consumables.
Research can reveal some telling tales, MUTOH in Singapore is one of the most popular range of machines in the GRAPHICS and Signage market. An astounding 80% of customers use these machines to produce extremely high quality printouts at the lowest price possible.
The reason most customers do not hear about it , is simply because in the CAD market the dominance is by the other larger companies that advertise frequently and come up with feature rich models.
The only way a customer can feel comfortable is through recommendations which is how the MUTOH has gained popularity. Further then that, in the issue of reliability, if its well built precision products no one does it better than japan. Once upon a time the best and most reliable products came from japan. Through competition and cost cutting some manufacturers buckled under the pressure and sent their machines to be made in china and Thailand.
The machine is covered by a local warranty agreement and in terms of service USC SOLUTIONS provides a level of service that is of the highest order. It is in our culture and mindset to propose the best and be the best.
As a summary
  • Mutoh offers customers a simple system that works well with CAD applications
  • In addition because of the inks being almost 5 to 6 times cheaper then conventional inks it becomes the most affordable ink system you can purchase.
  • A peace of mind knowing that for 3 years warranty is provided
  • A simple but extremely powerful 4 ink configuration.
  • A well built and well designed machine
  • Has the ability to work with a rip software and to create amazing posters at the lowest price
  • 42 inches and 24 inch model available for all types of applications.
Do let me know if you have any questions or feedback or even if your looking for a machine like this:
Full Range Of Machines : www.largeformatspecialist.com.sg/
Blog                             : http://largeformatplotters.blogspot.sg/
Wordpress                     : http://largeformatplotters.wordpress.com
Facebook:                      : www.facebook.com/uscsolutions
Follow Me On Twitter     : @marcomoochala
Add Me On Google+      : google.com/+MarcoMoochala
Warm Regards,
Marco Moochala
Sales & Marketing CAD Division
USC Solutions Pte Ltd
203A Henderson Road
#02-03 Henderson Industrial Park
Singapore 159546
M: +65 90266787
T: +65 6278 3110
F: +65 6273 4208